Snap-hook.



No. 667,40l. Patented Feb. 5, l90l.

- s. McCAY. v

SNAP, HOOK.

A lication me'd Feb. 21, 1900.

. (NolodeL) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

SPENCER MOOAY, OF GREENWIOH, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO H. J. HASKELL, OFZANESVILLE, OHIO.

SNAP-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters IPatent No. 667,401, datedFebruary 5, 1901.

Appl cation filed February 2 1, 1900. Serial No. 6,091. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SPENCER MOOAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Greenwich, in the county of Huron and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Snap-Hooks and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has for its object the provision of a snap-hook of novelconstruction and formed of a single length of wire and which isreinforced at the attaching ends, thereby enabling the device to be madefrom wire of comparatively light gage consistent with the strain to beborne or sustained thereby.

The hook is free from loose and pivoted parts, cannot becomeaccidentally loosened or detached when properly applied, is light,durable, and strong, and capable of being constructed of wrought ordrawn metal, as wire, which is best adaptd to withstand strain, blows,and sudden twists.

The invention also consists of the novel features, details ofconstruction, and combination of the parts, which hereinafter will bemore fully described and finally claimed, and for this purpose and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the merits of the invention and the structuraldetails of the means whereby the results are attained reference is to behad to the appended description and the drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention arenecessarily susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodimentof the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a snaphook embodying the essence ofthe invention. Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view,the dotted lines showing the hooked ends pressed apart.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawingsby the samereference characters.

The device is provided at opposite ends with loops 3 and a,respectively, the loop 3 being designed to receive the folded portion ofthe strap (not shown) in the ordinary manner and the loop dadapted toengage with the ring or part to which the hook is to be snapped. Theloop 3 is approximately of D form and consists of coils arranged side byside. The loop 4 is composed of two members placed side by side andadapted to be separated to admit of the hook being engaged with ordisengaged from the ring or other part of a harness in the well-knownmanner. The side members 1 and 2, connecting the loops 3 and 4, curve inopposite directions and cross at their ends in-reverse directions-thatis, the member 1 crosses over the member 2 at the point 5 and passesbeneath the member 2 at the point 6. The loop 3 and members 1 and 2 arein the same plane and the loop 4 is in a plane at a right angle to theplane of the parts 1, 2, and 3. The terminal portions of the members 1and 2 are formed into hooks a and b, which curve in opposite directionsand lie side by side, their terminal portions being inturned, as shownat 8 and 9, to prevent accidental disengagement of the hook from thepart to which it is applied. The extremities of the incurved portions 8and 9 are inversely deflected and terminate in a point 10, which islocated in line with the longitudinal center of the hook. The subjacentarrangement of the hooks to and b precludes the possible casualdisengagement of the device when properly positioned, and the hooks aand b mutually codperate to sustain the strain, thereby addingmaterially to the strength of the device in its entirety and enablingthe Wire from which it is formed to be of comparatively small gage.

By having the side members 1 and 2 curved in opposite directionspressure brought laterally thereagainst from opposite directions bringsthem together and effects a separation of the loops at and b to admit ofthe snap-hook being engaged with a ring or other part to which it is tobe applied, the ring (not shown) being passed between the loops at and band given a one-quarter turn and again drawn forward to cause it toenter the loop 4:, after which the pressure is removed from the parts 1and 2, when they will spring outward and close the hooks a and b andsecure the part received in the loop 4 from accidental displacement. Thecrossing of the side members 1 and 2 in opposite directions at thepoints 5 and 6 prevents displacement of the hooks a and b in a directionat a rightangle to the plane of the parts 1, 2, and 3. The incurvedparts 8 and 9 abut and form the point 10 and prevent movement of thehooks aand bin one direction, and the crossing 6 prevents movement ofsaid hooks in the opposite direction. Hence they are caused to maintaina subjacent relation which is beneficial. The only movement that thehooks a and b have is laterally, or in the plane of the parts 2 and 3,so as to admit of the snap-hook being placed in position or removed asrequired.

The snaphook is constructed from a single length of spring-wire ofsuitable gage,according to the size and load intended to be sustained bythe device, and this wire is doubled upon itself at a central point andis coiled to provide the loop 3, the end portions being oppositelycurved to provide the side members 1 and 2, the hooks a and b, and theincurved terminal portions 8 and 9. The reverse crossing of the sidemembers 1 and 2 at the points 5 and 6 is essential to preserve the formand working relation of the parts. A straight line passes centrallythrough the loops 3 and 4 and midway between the parts 1 and 2 andtouches the points of crossing 5 and 6. Hence it will be understood thatthe strain is evenly distributed upon all parts of thehook when thedevice'isin service. Byha-ving'thesnap-hook constructed of wire it isexceedingly light, possessed of strength, and can be cheaply andeconomically manufactured, and the side members are adapted to becompressed so as to spread the hooks a and b, and when released saidside members spring outward and close the hook.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- As animproved article of manufacture, a snap-hook constructed of a singlelength of wire doubled upon itself and coiled forming a strap-loop, andhaving the folded'portions adjacent to the strap-loop crossed, thenceoppositely curved in the plane of the-strap-loop and again broughttogether and reversely crossed and interlocked by a half-twist, andhaving the end portions oppositely and symmetrically curved to formhooks which lie side by side and form a ring-loop in a plane at a rightangle to the plane of the strap-loop and the connecting members, andhaving the terminal portions inturn-ed and reversely deflected,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SPENCER MOOAY. [L. s] Witnesses:

JOHN W. P. REID, C. H. HARE.

